9 American Ways to Treat Your Toothache at Home (And One to Avoid)
Adult teeth are meant to last a lifetime; however, many of today’s foods combined with unhealthy life habits can have a huge negative impact on your oral health.
When a toothache strikes, the wisest thing you can do is to make an appointment and see your dentist. If the pain gets unbearable until then, though, there has to be something you can do to ease the pain at home, right?
I know toothaches are one of the worst pains one can possibly experience especially if there’s a severe cause such as a tooth infection. That’s why I compiled 10 of the most effective remedies for toothaches you can try right in the comfort of your home.
9 Home Remedies to Soothe Tooth Pain
Clove
Cloves have long been used as a natural remedy for numbing nerves, which eases pain temporarily in different areas of the body. This valuable effect is caused by eugenol, a natural anesthetic found in the spice.
However, make sure that you use the spice carefully to avoid a negative impact. Here’s how to do it correctly:
Pour two drops of clove oil on a cotton ball. Place the ball against the tooth itself until you start feeling the pain receding.
Alternatively, you can also use a pinch of powdered clove and apply it directly on the tooth. If whole cleaves are all you’ve got, you can simply place one directly on the tooth. Chew the whole clove just a little to help it release its oil and keep it on the affected area up to half an hour or until you feel the pain subsiding.
ATTENTION! Never pour clove oil directly on the aching area because it can worsen the pain tremendously if the surrounding gum tissue is also affected.
Ginger-cayenne paste
Create a paste by mixing equal parts of ginger and cayenne with some water. Roll a small ball of cotton, soak it into the paste just enough to saturate it and place it directly on the affected tooth. Make sure to avoid your tongue and gums to prevent additional pain if this tissue is also affected.
Leave the cotton ball on the tooth until the pain starts fading. Depending on the cause of your toothache, you may also experience a burning sensation in the affected area, at which point you can remove the cotton ball.
Both of these spices are very effective natural painkillers and you can also try to use them separately, although you may not achieve similar positive results. Cayenne also poses an interesting property of blocking pain messages from reaching your brain.
Salt water
This is perhaps the most affordable and handy natural remedy on our list. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt into a cup of boiling water and use the mix as a regular mouthwash. Swish around for 30 seconds and spit it out.
Salt water has been found to cleanse the area around the effective tooth, which could possibly reduce swelling and remove any irritating debris. You can repeat this process as many times as needed throughout the day as long as you make sure that you don’t swallow the water (which could increase your sodium intake).
